Media Room Speeches and Statements

Speaking Notes for
the Honourable David Anderson, P.C., M.P.
Minister of the Environment, Government of Canada

at an announcement on UNEP Funding
Funding for GEMS/Water
Ratification of the Rotterdam Convention

World Summit on Sustainable Development
Johannesburg
August 29 2002

Check Against Delivery

Good morning everyone,

First, let me introduce Dr. Klaus Toepfer. Dr. Toepfer is Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program. He took on that role in 1998 after a distinguished career in public life in his native Germany, one that included serving as minister responsible for the environment in the German government. I should point out too, that he succeeded a Canadian, Liz Dowdeswell who is part of our delegation and is also here with us today.

One of the most common questions that journalists ask me about the World Summit on Sustainable Development is what will we accomplish? There is a concern that these events need — and I have to quote the Elvis hit of this summer — "a little less conversation, a little more action". I agree and the Government of Canada agrees.

Our expectation is this World Summit on Sustainable Development will emphasize action plans. These won't be grandiose gameplans in most cases. Often, they will be concrete partnerships to achieve very specific outcomes. Others will focus on the nuts and bolts of getting the job done in the international community.

Today, I want to announce three ways that Canada will do our part to support the environmental dimension to our work here in Johannesburg.

UNEP Environment Program Funding

First, Canada is increasing our support to the UNEP Environment Fund by $5.7 million over the next four years. That translates into a new total contribution of approximately $10 million over that four-year period. This is more than double our previous contribution.

This increased funding comes at an important time for UNEP and the world's environment. Over the past year and a half, I have led work with environment ministers from around the world to determine how we can make international environmental governance more effective.

Why governance? Because we need a much stronger and better-coordinated institutional framework for our international environmental agreements, programs and activities. Improving governance is about ensuring that international agencies and partners work more effectively to integrate environmental, economic and social development priorities.

The centrepiece of improved international environmental governance must be a stronger United Nations Environment Program. The world needs a UNEP that can advocate strongly for the environmental perspective in the decisions and work of other international agencies, governments and all sectors of civil society.

Canada believes in a stronger UNEP. I was pleased that the work I led with my fellow ministers called for a better-funded Programme. And today, we are backing that commitment with cash.

Our additional funds, along with increased contributions that other countries have pledged, will enable UNEP to do more to implement an expanding number of international environmental agreements. UNEP will have an improved capacity to take action around the globe.

GEMS / Water

One of the key ways to improve that capacity is by expanding our scientific and technical knowledge. The second element in my announcement is focused on supporting the scientific research and analysis that enables all partners to make better decisions.

Canada is signing a Memorandum of Understanding with UNEP for an enhanced Global Environment Monitoring System/Water Programme Office, located in Burlington, Ontario.

As a country where water is so much a part of our national identity, Canada is also proud to contribute $1.5 million to a new UNEP General Trust Fund for GEMS/Water. We look forward to contributions by other countries and to the collaboration of other UN agencies that share an interest in healthy water.

The new funding will enable GEMS/Water to add to the data on freshwater quality that will help the world do more to address challenges such as the estimated 1.4 billion people who lack safe drinking water.

This is extremely timely of course since water is a priority topic for WSSD. The quality of freshwater affects human health, the health of other species, the quality of agriculture and development in every way. To make effective water management choices, we need sound water quality assessment and monitoring.

Since 1978, Canada has hosted GEMS/Water and supported much of its work to gather, analyze and communicate information on the quality and availability of freshwater worldwide. Now, UNEP intends to strengthen its work in this area.

Ubuntu Village and WaterDome, where the GEMS/Water story is described in detail.

Rotterdam / PIC

The third element of my announcement is about putting science into action around the world. Canada is doing that by joining the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

The goal of the Rotterdam Convention is to better manage the trade of hazardous substances, particularly in developing countries. We are implementing regulations under the Canada Environmental Protection Act that will allow us to refuse exports of hazardous industrial chemicals and pesticides to countries that do not want them.

This will build on the voluntary commitment that the chemical industry in Canada has already shown to control exports of hazardous chemicals and pesticides. It will formalize the requirement that before an export takes place, we have to be notified. We will look to see if the country that would be importing them has provided what we call "prior informed consent" to receiving the chemicals or pesticides.

This is good for those countries, of course. But it is also good for Canada because the persistent organic pollutants in these products can still make their way back into our environment from sources around the world. This is a particular concern in our Arctic.

By joining the Rotterdam Convention, Canada is formalizing work that will help reduce key pollutants in the global environment and encouraging the identification of alternative chemicals and practices.

Conclusion

Canada is here at the World Summit on Sustainable Development with a commitment to results. The goal is not major new international agreements. It is working out effective, do-able action plans on the agreements and commitments that already exist. It is getting practical results.

We are moving toward our goals, step by step. That's the point of more than doubling our support for the United Nations Environment Program Environment Fund. It's the point of increasing our support for the Global Environment Monitoring System/Water Programme. It's the point of joining the Rotterdam Convention.

I should point out that in the next few days you will hear about more Canadian initiatives from me, Minister Whelan and the Prime Minister. They all show our commitment to sustainable development and to a successful World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Thank you.